APPARATUS FOR ROLLING CURVED SECTIONS

CINTREUSE A ROULEAUX

English Abstract

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING CURVED SECTIONS
Abstract of the Disclosure
A metal sheet is formed into an arcuate contour by
rolling the sheet under high pressure on an elastomeric
pad (24) supported by a rigid frame. A pair of laterally
spaced rollers (30, 32) are used to form the arc. Each moves
from the transverse edge of the sheet inwardly and crosses
the center line of the sheet. Under the high pressure
applied to the rolls the sheet yields to form the arc and
the elastomeric material elastically deforms as the arc is
formed. The rollers depend from vertical guides (34, 36)
which follow a track extending transversely across the sheet.
A guide track (38) is provided in a transverse beam located
above the rolls and the guides. Hydraulic or pneumatic
jacks (70) apply pressure to the beam which in turn applies
pressure to the rolls.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILIEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Apparatus for forming a metal sheet into an arcuate contour
comprising: an elastomeric pad supported by a rigid frame; means
for moving a metal sheet upon said pad; a pair of laterally
spaced rollers located adjacent opposite edges of said pad;
means for applying vertical pressure to said rolls; means for
separately moving each of said rolls inwardly of the sheet;
whereby under said pressure applied to the rolls, said sheet
yields to form an arcuate shape and said elastomeric pad
elastically deforms as the arc is formed.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including guide means to
guide said rollers inwardly and across the center line of said
sheet.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rollers depend
from vertical guides which follow tracks extending transversely
above the sheet.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said guide tracks
are provided in a transverse beam located above said rolls.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including means for apply-
ing pressure to said beam which in turn applies pressure to
said rolls.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for
controlling the speed of the rolls.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the speed of the
rolls is controlled by cylinder and piston mechanically connect-

ed to said rolls.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pad is made
of polyurethane.
9. Apparatus for forming a metal sheet into an arcuate con-
tour comprising: an elastomeric pad supported by a rigid frame;
means for moving a metal sheet upon said pad; a pair of later-
ally spaced rollers located adjacent opposite edges of said
pad; a transverse beam; roller guide views movable relative
to said beam; means for applying vertical pressure to said
beam; means for separately moving each of said rolls inwardly
of the sheet along said roller guide means; whereby under
said pressure applied to the rolls, said sheet yields to form
an arcuate shape and said elastomeric pad elastically deforms
as the arc is formed; and means for moving said beam vertically
to release said sheet.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 including means for
controlling the speed of the rolls.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the speed of the
rolls is controlled by cylinder and piston mechanically con-
nected to said rolls.
12. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said pad is made
of polyurethane.

Description

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING CURVED SECTIONS
Background of the Invention
This invention relates to roll forming of metal shapes.
In U.S. Patent 3,342,051 a curved shape is formed by
movement of a roller upon a metal blank located upon a resi-
lient pad in which the blank and the resilient pad rotaterelative to the moving roller.
In U.S. Patent 2,616,198 a blank located on a resilient
base is deformed by a roller in which the blank and the resi-
lient pad do not rotate.
It is also known to form a curved shape between a metallic
roller and a resilient roller as illustrated by U.S. Patents
1,930,562; 2,6Z2,573; 3,205,689 and 3,304,757.
Summary of the Invention
According to the present invention, there is provided
apparatus for forming a metal sheet into an arcuate contour
comprising: an elastomeric pad supported by a rigi~ frame;
means for moving a metal sheet upon said pad; a pair of later-
ally spaced rollers located adjacent opposite edges of said pad;
means for applying vertical pressure to said rolls; means for
separately moving each of said rolls inwardly of the sheet;
whereby under said pressure appIied to the rolls, said sheet
yields to form an arcuate shape and said elastermeric pad
elastically deforms as the arc is formed.
The Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rolling assembly
of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rolls to be utilized
in the present invention.
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Description of Preferred Embodiments
The machine of the present invention is indicated
in the drawings generally at ~0.
A series of I beam supports 12 are located on the
concrete floor 14 and support transverse I beams 16. Mounted
upon the transverse I beams 16 is a steel plate 18. An
elastomeric support plate 20 is located on steel plate 18. A
layer or pad of elastomeric material 22 having a durometer
value from 80 SHORE A to 95 SHORE A, for example, made of
polyurethane, is then attached to plate 20 with fasteners 26.
The elastomeric pad 24 has flanges which are clamped in place
by the fasteners 26 as shown in Figure 2.
A pair of rollers 30 and 32 are mounted upon guides
34 and 36 which depend from a transverse beam 38. Each of
the rollers 30 and 32 is journaled in depending arms 40 and
42 (Figure 2). Rolls 30 and 32 include a slot 44 to accom-
modate a corrugation in the sheet being formed. The diameter
of rolls 30 and 32 is preferably within the range of four (4)
inches to six (6) inches. In view of the high pressures
utilized in the rolling of the present invention, heavy duty
bearings 43 of a known construction are used to journal the
rolls in the arms 40 and 42.
Guides 34 and 36 are each attached to respective
pistons 46 and 48, each of which operates in a double acting
fluid cylinder 50 and 52 to move the guide and rollers back
and forth. Similarly, beam 38 is movable vertically within
vertical guides 56 and 58 located on fixed vertical beams
60 and 62. A movable stop 64 is attached to each of guides
56 and 58. Fixed stops 66 supported by gussets 68 are used
to locate the proper height of rolls 30 and 32 for rolling
a sheet of metal located on elastomeric pad 24.
A series of hydraulic jacks 70 depend from a trans-
verse beam 72 attached at opposite ends to fixed vertical
beams 60 and 62. Hydraulic or pneumatic jacks 70,of up to
~ 35 fifteen (15) tons and higher are used to apply pressure to
; beam 38 and in turn to guides 34 and 36 and to rollers 30
and 32 when a sheet of metal is being formed. Rollers 30 and
32 move separately from the edge of the sheet inwardly towards
the center portion. The rolls move at a range of ten (10)
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inches per minute to thirty t30) inches per minute.
A driven roller 74 (Fig. 2) is used to move sheets
of material into position for rolling. A conveyor indicated
generally at 78 is also provided for this purpose including
a plurality of rolls 80. The conveyor and roller are mounted
on conventional frame structure, including vertical beams 81
and transverse beams 82.
In the operation of the apparatus of the present
invention conveyor 78 and roller 74 are utilized to move a
sheet of material into position upon elastomeric pad 24
located between rollers 30 and 32. .~acks 70 are then utilized
to lower beam 38 and apply pressure to guides 34 and 36 and
rollers 30 and 32 to contact the material. Fluid is intro-
duced into cylinder 50 to activate piston 46 and guide 34
to move roller 30 transversely across the work piece. In so
doing the roller causes -the sheet material to yield and the
elastomeric material to elastically deform resulting in
an arcuate shape being formed in the sheet. Roll 30 rolls
~to the center line of the sheet and is then retracted by
;20 reversing the flow oE hydraulic fluid in cylinder 50. Fluid
is then introduced into cylinder 52 activating piston 48
and causing roller 32 to move from right to left and form
an arcuate contour on this portion of the sheet. Roller 32
rolls to the center line of the sheet and then is retracted
by reversing the flow of fluid in cylinder 52. Sheets having
an arcuate portion of seven (7~ inches in diameter have been
conveniently formed.
The slot 44 in rollers 30 and 32 is for the purpose
of maintaining a reinforcing corrugation in the particular
sheet being rolled. However, it is to be understood that
slot 44 may be eliminated if such reinforcements are not pro-
vided in the sheet being rolled. The flow of fluid is con-
trolled electronically in a known manner.
The preferred material for elastomeric pad 24
is polyurethane having a durometer value of 80 SHORE A to
95 SHORE A. An example of suitable polyurethane material is
sold under the tradename Tool-A-ThaneTM obtainable from
Urethane Tool and Engineering Corporation. However, it is to
be understood that o-ther elastomeric materials such as
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polyethylene, polypropylene ~ay be used for this pad pro-
vided they have the necessary durometer value and the strength
to withstand the cycling of continuous or semi-continuous
rolling of arcuate shapes.
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